The Actor by Maya Brooks Read Free Book Online Page A

to the mall. See some people, maybe buy a new shirt.
    She hadn’t told
anyone except Heather about Marc and his troubles, and she stayed away from her
friends so they wouldn’t realize something was wrong. She had been alone for
too long, and spending a day at the mall surrounded by strangers might not be
too bad. Her feet headed for the front door before she even knew she’d made up
her mind.
    The apartment
buildings were low but many, and people were always coming and going. Fumbling
with the keys, she waved automatically to a neighbor.
    A taxi pulled
up close to her front door as she locked, and she didn’t even look.
    The lady
upstairs had many visitors, and it wasn’t any of her business.
    The cab was
between her and her car, so she couldn’t help seeing it when she took a couple
of steps away from the door. The passenger side opened, and her fingers grew
weak, losing their grip on her purse as a well-known shape stepped out.
    It can’t be,
it’s not possible. What is he doing here?
    Her heart
stopped beating and she forced stale air out of her lungs. It must be an
illusion, her mind playing a prank on her.
    Marc turned
towards her, and the paralysis released its grip. She ran the few steps
separating them and threw her arms around him. His warm body felt real enough,
but she still wasn’t sure until he spoke.
    “I thought I’d
drop by to see you, I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Oh my God, I
thought you were dead.”
    He murmured,
“Almost,” and held her tighter.
    The cab driver
cleared his throat and peeked out the passenger door. “So, I take it this is
where you wanted to go?”
    Marc released
his grip on her.
    “If this is a
bad time or something, I’ll have him take me to a hotel.”
    “Don’t be
silly. You’re staying here with me.”
    She stared at
his face when he paid the fare.
    What
happened to you?
    His skin was
almost gray, and he had dark rings under his eyes. Fine lines had deepened into
real wrinkles since she last saw him.
    Maybe he was
too drunk and forgot to get Botoxed.
    No. There was
more to it than that.
    He didn’t even
have a suitcase, just a plastic bag from an airport store. If he was running
away, he could certainly have gone to worse places than her.
    It was the
first time they met since the convention, and it was a bit strange to see him
in real life. They spent so many days and nights together on the phone or the
computer, but meeting face to face made her shy. What could she say?
    Marc just stood
there, watching the taxi drive away.
    Take command
of the situation. Do something. What would Heather do?
    Thinking of her
colleague gave her the strength to move. She tucked her hand into his and led
him to the front door.
    “It’s not much,
but it’s home.”
    Her apartment
was small and she could hear the neighbors walk upstairs, but it was cozy. Marc
glanced around and the smile playing on his lips seemed almost real.
    “I love it.”
    “Want something
to eat? I have chicken lasagna.”
    “That would be
amazing.”
    Marc ate, and
fell asleep on her sofa. She tiptoed around not to wake him, and texted
Heather.
    “You’ll never
believe who just walked in”
    The answer came
promptly.
    “That’s great!
=)”
    She wanted to
caress his hair or curl up next to him, but he needed rest too much to be
disturbed.
    Congratulations.
I think life just took another abrupt turn.
    Whatever
changes might come weren’t important; he was alive, and in her home. There were
surely problems brewing on the horizon, but nothing worthy of worry at the
moment.
    Marc didn’t
stir until late afternoon, and he investigated her home, poking around in
everything.
    Ouch, I hope
I dusted under there some time this century.
    “You have
games. I bet you ten bucks I can still beat you at Scrabble.”
    Really? You
came all this way to play board games? Alright, I guess.
    “Real life
Scrabble, with no computer cheats? Bring it on.”
    The idea was
much better than it appeared at first glance; a